Just the Way You Are

by Beth Moran

Why do you need a man to complete your Dream List? Why not do it on your own? By the time you’ve finished it, you’ll be so independent, and interesting and confident that there’ll be Dream Men queuing up to help you write a new one.’

I felt a fleeting pang of regret that I had no one to share this with, before shaking my head at the concept that you have to share something in order to fully appreciate it. I’d experienced a moment of magic, and that was something to treasure.

there are imperfect, mixed-up, complicated people everywhere. People who are simply doing the best they can to shake off whatever’s been dumped on them, pick themselves up and keep on going.

I will make a thousand mistakes, I will take many wrong turns, and I may well fail spectacularly, along with every other person who ever lived. And when these things happen, I will shake it off and get back up again – maybe accepting a helping hand, if I need it – and I will keep on going.

‘Honestly, not many heroes wear capes or have huge muscles,’ I replied. ‘Most are ordinary people who simply have the courage to do the right thing when it needs to be done.’